Course Catalogue

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This course explores the forms and contexts of "bad language" understood as linguistic usage which transgresses societal norms by being judged as offensive or otherwise controversial: impolite, inappropriate, inelegant. We ask how the notions of linguistic impoliteness, correctness and propriety arise, taking a socio-historical, socio-cultural and pragmatic perspective. We explore the linguistic, social and creative aspects of "bad language" across a variety of genres, both historical, such as flyting (a poetic contest of insults), and those emerging in present-day digital communication.

10x 1h lecture + 10x1h seminar taking place within a semester as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into English Language & Linguistics, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Written assignment: essay (2000 words) = 50% 

■ Set exercise: a blog post (600 words) = 30% 

■ Portfolio (online quizzes, equivalent to 500 words) = 20% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to:

■ Present a range of textual contexts where offensive and controversial language use may arise.

■ Provide an opportunity to reflect on offensive and controversial language use in its socio-cultural and historical context.

■ Equip the students with linguistic tools to analyse offensive and controversial language use in an informed and systematic manner.

■ Develop skills in discussing offensive and controversial language without bias.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Recognise instances of offensive and controversial language use across a variety of textual sources.

■ Interpret instances of offensive and controversial language use in their socio-cultural and historical context.

■ Apply linguistic frameworks to analyse instances of offensive and controversial language.

■ Formulate and present a written argument in relation to a selected aspect of offensive and controversial language.

■ Present a linguistically informed account of a selected aspect of offensive and controversial language as if to non-academic audiences.